Big Emotions, Brave Educators: Learning, Growing, Thriving.

Join us for a day dedicated to learning, connection, and inspiration for early childhood professionals! This conference is designed to refuel your passion and strengthen the essential skills that support both children’s growth and your own well-being.

Throughout the day, you’ll explore practical strategies to nurture children’s social and emotional development, build stronger relationships, and respond to challenging behaviors with confidence and compassion. You’ll also gain tools to manage stress, boost resilience, and maintain balance in your personal and professional life.

Together, we’ll celebrate the heart of early childhood education—rediscovering joy, purpose, and the powerful impact you make every day. Leave refreshed, re-energized, and ready to bring renewed enthusiasm back to your classroom and community.

Agenda

7:30am - 8:30am  Registration / Visit Vendors

8:30am - 10:00am  Keynote: Making Deposits- Supporting Little People Who Have Big Emotions, Delechia Johnson, MS., IMH-E®, Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health

Have you ever wondered how young children can have such big emotions? Participants will look at how they can support children’s social and emotional development and help children label and manage big emotions. Participants will also have an opportunity to reflect how their positive responses to children’s big emotions can help to make deposits in each child’s social and emotional piggy bank.

10:00am - 10:25am  Break / Visit Vendors

10:25am - 11:55am  Confidence in the Classroom: Addressing Challenges with Compassion and Skill, Martha Stolp and Julie Betchkal, Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health

You work hard every day to make a difference for the children and families in your care. In this workshop you will learn practical, relationship centered strategies rooted in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health principles and Pyramid Model tools. We will look at behaviors that feel challenging to you, explore what they may be communicating and practice ways to respond that build skills and strengthen connection. We will reflect on ways you can navigate stressful moments with more clarity and compassion, for the children and yourself.  This session is designed to help you leave feeling empowered, understood, and equipped to show up as your best self, even on the hard days. 

11:55am - 1:00pm  Lunch

1:00pm - 3:00pm  Stress and Resilience: Strengthening Well-Being for Early Childhood Professionals, Nicole Cusimano and Anna Barthen, YoungStar Connect

This course offers early childhood educators strategies to recognize stressors and explore ways to build resilience in both their personal and professional lives. Participants will reflect on techniques to enhance emotional well-being and consider practical approaches to finding balance and maintaining a positive outlook in their work. The training aims to support educators in navigating challenges with greater ease and promoting a healthier, more resilient mindset. 

3:15pm - 3:45pm Celebrating YOU and Your Why, Shawn Sullivan, Northcentral Technical College 

Let’s end the day on a high note! This lively closing session is all about you—your passion, your creativity, and the joy you bring to every little learner. Through fun reflection, laughter, and a few surprise activities, we’ll celebrate the heart and humor of early childhood education. Come ready to recharge your spirit, reconnect with your “why,” and leave smiling, inspired, and reminded that what you do truly matters.

Registration

Early Bird Registration (Until February 13, 2026) - $30

Regular Registration - $40

*Includes lunch, all conference materials, and certificate for 5.5 CEUs

Attend Your Way

Attend in-person to meet our speakers, connect and network with other providers, and shop the vendors.  An online streaming option is available for those who are not able to make it to campus. PLEASE NOTE: online attendees will be required to engage and participate in the chat and complete an assessment to receive a certificate of CEUs. 

Scholarship Support

We are excited to announce this year we will be offering a limited number of scholarship funds in an effort to make this training more accessible and reduce financial barriers to attend and participate in this training.  This scholarship will be distributed as a partial reimbursement of $15/person.  To apply for scholarship support, please complete this form and then proceed with your registration below. Disbursement of scholarship funds will be mailed after completion of the conference. 

Scholarship Assistant Application

Meet our Presenters

Delechia Johnson, MS., IMH-E®

Infant Family Associate, Wisconsin Pyramid Model Training and Outreach Lead, Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health

Delechia brings over 30 years of comprehensive experience and advanced training in the field of Early Care and Education. As a Tier 3 Trainer in the state of Wisconsin, she has held diverse roles throughout her career—including volunteer, teacher, director, educational coordinator, mentor, instructional coach, professional development manager, and consultant. Recognized by colleagues and the broader early childhood education (ECE) community for her effectiveness and impact, Delechia has built strong, collaborative relationships with numerous early care and education programs across Milwaukee and surrounding counties. Through her training and consultation work, she has supported the growth and quality improvement of countless educators and organizations.

Delechia holds an IMH-E® Infant Family Associate endorsement and earned her Master of Science in Early Childhood Education from Erikson Institute in 2016. She currently serves as the Pyramid Model Outreach and Training Lead at the Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health, where she continues to champion best practices that promote the social and emotional well-being of young children and their families

Julie Betchkal, Pyramid Model Program Manager, Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health

Julie brings 40 years of experience in Early Care and Education- as a special education teacher, home visitor, autism “specialist”, behavior consultant, and professional development provider.  She currently works for the Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health as the state program manager of Wisconsin’s Pyramid Model work. Her topics of interest include how adults can feel supported so they can support young children, peer mediated interventions, how data can be used to reassure and guide decision, and working with adults to figure out a child’s “why”.  Julie loves to talk with and learn from folks in the field of Early Care and Education about the difference they are making in this world!

Martha Stolp, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Mentor, Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health

Martha Stolp has been working with children and families for the last 17 years. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and currently works primarily as Mental Health Consultant for Early Childhood, birth through age 5. Martha obtained her Bachelor’s degree Human Development and Family Studies, Child development and Education, in 2010 from University of Missouri. She worked as a preschool teacher and nanny while obtaining her degree and continued to do so through obtaining her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from UW-Stout in 2016. She worked as a Child and Family Therapist at Children’s Wisconsin, specializing in working with young children and trauma, as well as Mental Health Consultant for Head Start, until 2022 when she opened her own practice. Since her practice opened in 2022, she has primarily worked as a Mental Health Consultant for various early childhood programs in her immediate and surrounding communities. Martha is passionate about advocating for children, families and early childhood staff. 

Nicole Cusimano, Content Development Manager, YoungStar Connect

Nicole Cusimano is a dedicated content developer with over a decade of experience in early education. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education Leadership and an Infant Family Associate Endorsement from the Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health. Nicole is a driving force for nurturing emotional well-being. As a mental wellness advocate, Nicole is committed to shaping enriched early childhood experiences and educational practices for all. Nicole most recently held the Social Emotional Content Specialist position with YoungStar Connect.

Anna Barthen, Inclusion and Exceptionalities Content Development Specialist, YoungStar Connect

Anna Barthen is a YoungStar Content Specialist with over 10 years of experience working with children and families. She holds a PhD in Infant and Early Childhood Development with an emphasis in Mental Health and Neurodiversity. Prior to her work in professional development, Anna owned a licensed family childcare program and taught as an Early Childhood Special Education teacher in public education. She is an inclusion advocate and is excited to share her expertise and support providers in this challenging and rewarding field.

This training is hosted in partnership with